BusConnects Dublin - Big changes to Bus Network

I really have no idea tbh. If I had a hunch; the N2/N8 could be out with either the E Spine/O route or B Spine.

The impending diversion of the W6 away from Brookfield is not great news for the people living there.

Is the anti social behaviour still ongoing in that part of Tallaght?

Also; would there be any chance that the NBRU would try to have more talks with the NTA/operators/Gardaí to try and reinstate the W6 along with the other routes that were taken out of that area?

Of course buses carry the lion's share, rail and luas are only available in a much smaller amount of areas. There is a snobbery about buses in some people. Just as a small sample, I work with people who get the dart everyday to work but if the dart isn't running for whatever reason then they will drive in. They wouldn't dream of getting the bus. This despite two of them living very close to the terminus of two of the most frequent routes in Dublin.

A bit strange given that most of the buses are far more modern than any of the DART rolling stock

Seen this on the 17 today, seems to be an internal newsletter that someone stuck up on the bus. Ballymount expansion has supposedly started, with a completion timeline of 25 weeks.

It will enable fleet expansion for the upcoming W routes, will this part of the works be done in time for phase 5a I wonder?

Looks okay. Though an obvious problem with high circular canopies along a straight-edged bus platform is the hit-and-miss nature of the protection from the elements - it slightly favours form over function. With the tram stop here too in a parallel layout, there was an opportunity for a canopy arching over the whole interchange, a showpiece bit of architecture for the Bus Connects project as the Dundrum bridge was for Luas. Would cost a bit more of course.

How long is it since work finished on the current Red Cow bus stop layout? Six months? Nonetheless, I prefer that they go ahead and do it right.

Hi Guys,

When are the next Bus Connects changes due to happen? Have been seeing different dates for it

Not sure how accurate this is, @dublinbusdude

According to the Dublin Commuter Coalition, when they toured the GAI depot GAI reps said that they had their driver shortage issues pretty much sorted.

So I'd imagine that would mean phase 5a (W4 & W61/2) should ocmmence soon, since it's only GAI involved in that.

Ah I misread it slightly then

Go Ahead normally takes about 3 months for a driver to be trained in (on a car license). Bus Theory Test about 3 weeks wait, case study another 2 or so weeks, medical test another week or two, then if all that goes well you will have 4 weeks training on the bus then your test. If you pass your test its classroom for a week then route training and bus familiarization. It takes time, and then after all of that, some drivers only last a month then leave, of course they will have to pay back the full cost of the tests that go ahead paid for.

I could be wrong but if you stay at go ahead for a year you get 1000 bonus payment.

Not sure about a bonus simply for staying on but I know they have a bonus for every month you go without any accidents.

Does DB not have a safety bonus anymore?

Thanks. Yes I get it that it was planned to be done independently (and much quicker than waiting for ABP for the infrastructure - assuming they get approval in the first place) . But now that it's delayed for various other factors and multiples the promised improvements may not materialize until after infrastructure.. why not adapt and reevaluate the order.

Cause doing the infrastructure after the route alignment will cause another few years of further service degradation...

Emailed NTA for an update.. autoresponse promised reply within 15 working days.. they are in no hurry..